Beer Giants Agree Takeover Terms

The world's largest beer brewer agrees a $106bn merger with the world's second largest. AB InBev and SABMiller will control up to 40% of the planet's beer - if the deal goes ahead. First it has to be approved by regulators worried that such a large company would stifle competition, particularly in the rejuvenated craft beer market. We speak to Jane Peyton, a beer sommellier in London.

It's the last budget day before Ireland goes to the polls next year. Help with childcare and increases in state pension are among the spoils of a recovering Irish economy, but the pain of benefit cuts during years of punishing austerity are still being felt, as the BBC's Diarmaid Fleming reports from Dublin.

We hear from Tonga to find out what drives the economy of the tiny island nation, and check in on the first Democratic Presidential Debate in Las Vegas.

Throughout the programme we're joined by David Moser, Academic Director of CET Chinese Studies at Beijing Capital Normal University and Lizzie O'Leary from Market Place in New York.

(Photo: Pack of six Miller Lite and Budweiser bottled beer. Credit: Getty Images.)